Having admitted a little fatigue in his group, Pierre Sage has a week to prepare for the meeting against the Entente Feignies Aulnoye. Will this Coupe de France meeting push the OL coach to go all out?
Sunday, at the Parc des Princes, OL supporters were able to see players physically exhausted. We think in particular of Corentin Tolisso in the hard, Nemanja Matic who spent his 36 years on Parisian accelerations but also Alexandre Lacazette and Malick Breathing left on the bench at kick-off “in a logic of freshness”. Since the start of the season, Pierre Sage has been fortunate to be able to count on a group relatively spared from injuries and other suspensions. This allowed him to manage times better.
However, we have realized this for several weeks, Lyon’s good performance is above all due to a typical eleven who emerges and who almost leaves crumbs for the others. Last week, the sequence Frankfurt – PSG was ultimately fatal for the Rhone team, which was unable to keep up with the Parisian pace with forty-eight hours less recovery time. The players didn’t want to take them as an excuse, but still…
Descamps holder in goal
Back in training on Tuesday, Clinton Mata’s teammates were able to take a day off before starting preparation for the Coupe de France. The latter is necessarily adapted so as not to put too much strain on the organizations before the last match of the year. However, the trip to Valenciennes raises the question of a turnover to be made or not? We saw it last season, Pierre Sage counted on this competition to concern his entire group. For six months, the Europa League has played this role, but what will it be for the Coupe de France?
Logic would dictate that yesterday’s replacements are tomorrow’s starters, especially with the physical parameter highlighted after the defeat at the Park. “Without disrespect to Feignies Aulnoye, even with substitutes, OL must pass if the players show seriousness and determination”pointed out Nicolas Puydebois in “As long as there are Gone”. Against a tough National 2 team, it’s difficult to prove our consultant wrong. Even if it is not the most prestigious poster of the season, this 32nd final should also allow these substitutes to send a message to their coach before leaving on vacation. The one he can count on despite poor playing time for some lately, like Maxence He would lie down. Avant HoffenheimSage had also suggested that Rémy Descamps would play the Coupe de France.
A showcase for the transfer window, but at what price?
Will we have the right to a new look OL on Saturday (6 p.m.) in Valenciennes? There should be many changes. However, too many changes could nip in the bud this desire to concern everyone. Precedents have also shown that a large turnover does not bring anything good. HAS ToulouseOL had come out of it miraculously, above all thanks to the newcomers (Cherki, Fofana). Rebel against Hoffenheim with an hour of insipid play before the unusual substitutes (Lacazette, Cherki, Fofana) reversed the trend of the match. Described as never making the same mistake twice, Pierre Sage nevertheless did it in this first part of the season.
Never two without three? With the transfer window in sight, this Coupe de France match could serve to highlight certain undesirables. But this could also have consequences on the collective objective put forward for months. With the disease of Mikautadzesee Lacazette regaining his starting place would be logical. And it’s a difficult balance that Pierre Sage will have to find: involving as many players as possible as the transfer window approaches, but also maintaining a certain collective momentum so as not to experience initial disillusionment.
